Assigned the pennant number K85, Verbena was built by Smiths Dock Company, South Bank-on-Tees and was laid down on 29 June 1940, initially under contract for the French Navy.

[1] She undertook working-up exercises at the Royal Navy's Anti-Submarine Training Base at HMS Western Isles, Tobermory and was certified as suitable for ocean escort duty on 30 December 1940.

Verbena had the distinction of being the first corvette to be commanded by an officer of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, Lieutenant-Commander Denys Rayner, from November 1940 until September 1942.

[4] On 4 September 1941, she was refitted at Grangemouth and had a Type 271 Radar set fitted, taken from the battlecruiser HMS Renown.

She was placed on the Disposal list and was sold to Swedish shipping firm AB Tore Holmes for conversion into a merchantman.